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be opposed to the law of self-preservation, which prevents his doing evil.

If, then, while you are thus disposed and thus commissioned to keep the peace, any one should fall in his attempt to break it, How,- let every one ask himself,-how does such a man fall ? Verily, as the housebreaker-as the incendiary--as the assassinas Goliath. Who kills the lawless ruffian ? the magistrate that executes the law? the citizen that stands merely upon his own defence ? No: the man kills himself. The son of violence as clearly puts himself to death, as a mad dog that rushes upon the opposed spear. He digged a pit and fell therein, and his blood is upon his own head.'

God forbid that any one should so mistake me here, as to imagine I would justify on any account a single act of violence, that can, all things considered, be prevented! But all things must be considered, before we can judge rightly of any one thing. I would, therefore, recommend to him, who may hesitate to act on account of the possible consequences of present exertions, to extend his views to the very probable consequences of making no exertions at all; and to ask. what if the son of violence succeeds ? What if no spear is held out as he rushes on ? What then ? Probably, not one perishes, but thousands—not the guilty, but the innocent.

And is this the way to prevent evil ? Look at the blood that has been shed, -not only of men in arms, but of men who have made

sacrifice for peace -men, who have presented their cheek to the smiter! Recollect the blood that has been poured out like water on every side-of helpless Old Age! of Women! of Infants! And after contemplating the massacres and conflagrations on the Continent, look at Ireland in order to ascertain the duty of the times in England! Let any one ask, if such calamities had befallen us as have overwhelmed other nations, what

bitter reflections must, with reason, have seized every heart on the recollection of a torpid supinenessma death-like lethargy-a fatal presumption of peace where there was no peace.'

The sluggard, therefore, who is sent to an insect to learn industry, may go again to study self-preservation. Providence, which presents such occasions to man, has given man reason to meet those occasions. You feel this: and, after the example in my text, you are come down, not to provoke, but to prevent a slaughter.

In the name of your God' continue thus to ó set up your banners;' and justly may be inscribed upon every one of them, Is THERE NOT A CAUSE ?

Having thus attempted to answer the first inquiry under our general proposition, let us now proceed to another no less necessary: namely,

II. WHAT ARE THOSE DISPOSITIONS. WITH WHICH SUCH EXERTIONS SHOULD BE MADE?

This is an important question: for motives and principles determine the character of actions; insomuch, that two men, in performing the same act, may be the one a good, the other an evil agent. Now no man acts with a right disposition, who does not, like David, proceed,

1. With a reference to God.

What, in this affair, respects his honour? What, is to be read of his mind, in the signs of the times? If a controversy is rending the nations, in which the agents of Hell are to be resisted; yet hath not the Lord also a controversy with Europe? "The Lord's voice crieth in the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: Hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it! Is there evil in the city, and the Lord hath not done it!

And who, that believes his Bible, can wonder at God's controversy with the nations ? especially with

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Christendom! What provocation can He receive, like that of rejecting or slighting the inestimable gift of his Son? The sentiment, *This man shall not reign over us,' is the master-sin of Europe. It is propagated by system: it is adopted by fashion: it is even countenanced by moralists: and it is expressed in an infinite variety of ways. But, whether it appear open or disguised, it involves such ingratitude and malignity, that, if it could exist alone, it would sufficiently account for any measures of a righteous indignation.

“We will maintain Christianity," says one party. But what Christianity? A solemn farce! in which the work, and word, and Spirit of Christ are made void, and of no effect by your traditions ?

“We will have no Christianity," says the other party. “The abuses of Christianity, which we have observed, lead us to determine that it can be of no

We are too good to need any atonement: we are too enlightened to need divine instruction : and, as to spiritual influence, none but knaves or fools so much as consider the subject.”

Are these things so ? Has this spirit gone forth, not only among the Philistines, but in Israel ? No wonder that the Lord hath a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways.' He, therefore, is not rightly disposed, who does not humbly bear the rod, mark who hath appointed it, consider why it is appointed, and personally depart from iniquity, while he engages himself to oppose its effects.

But a right disposition not only fears, but also TRUSTS the Lord. Contemplating the occasion, it will employ proper means; but on none of them will it depend. The language of such a disposition is, “Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain-There is no king saved by the multitude of a

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host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.'

Thus went David to meet his enemy: Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.' While, therefore, some trust in chariots, and some in horses, we with David should 'remember the name of the Lord our God.'

And, surely, our God has a special claim upon this nation for the remembrance of his name. 'Come and see what desolations He hath made in the earth,' and then contemplate your peace and privileges at home. What has He done for this nation in former times! What, at this day, is He doing for us! I must dismiss the topic-I am overwhelmed with particulars! General recollection, however, is sufficient to remind us to WHOSE almighty and gracious hand we stand indebted for the blessings which we enjoy at this moment, and upon WHOM alone we can depend for their continuance. Such a recollection should teach us, with Asa and Jehoshaphat, to look away from human strength, numbers, arrangements, and exertions; lest folly, weakness, and disappointment should be written on them all. Then, and then only, do we exert ourselves rightly, and advance against invaders with a well-grounded hope of success, when, with the men just mentioned, we own and forsake our sins, trust in promised mercy, and, employing the means put into our hands, cry, with them, Help us, O Lord our God-in thy name we go against this multitude-our eyes are upon thee.'

To set up our banners on any other ground, is to fall into the atheism of our enemy. His language, like that of Sennacherib and Goliath, has always been with me a token for good. Notwithstanding his tem

porary success, we should hold fast this truth, THE LORD REIGNETH. Such an enemy, like the Assyrian, may serve for a time as the Rod of God's anger,' which He 'sends against hypocritical nations to take the prey, and tread them down like the mire of the streets. Howbeit HE meaneth not so.' He seems to say, "Shall I not as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols!' Religion is but superstition, whether in London or in Rome."

But 'shall the axe' thus 'boast itself against Him, that heweth therewith? or the rod shake itself against Him, that lifts it up?" I will take courage while my enemy thus vaunts himself; I tremble when I hear any leader on our side imitate his language.

'Sanctify, therefore, the Lord of Hosts himself; and he shall be for a sanctuary.' The worse the present aspect of affairs, the more need have we to remember the name of the Lord our God. Whoever now frets under difficulties, and thereby increases them; let us recollect ourselves and our only Helper. He alone, who once said to the raging sea, 'Peace, be still,' can now speak peace to the nations. Whenever it comes, HE ought to be acknowledged as the sole giver of it; and, in the mean time, He will keep them 'in perfect peace, whose minds are stayed on HIM.'

2. To proceed with a right disposition, we must regard our NEIghbour.

Confining our views here to the occasion, let me remark, that, while the maintenance of peace and order is the single object of this association, UNION is its strength. It may not consist with the health and avocations of every neighbour to join you as a corps. Every neighbour cannot think with you about some particular measures; and some, like Eliab, may be ready to speak before they think. Here, brethren, 'Let your moderation be known unto all men.' Study to show yourselves, like the children of Issachar,